The panel discussed Washington's dysfunction and gridlock and whether Democrats and Republicans can set aside differences to tackle the myriad problems facing the country, including tax reform.

Gardner said the fight over sequestration — $85 billion in automatic federal spending cuts that took effect March 1 — did not build goodwill.

In the past week, citing the budget cut, federal agencies have issued warnings of furloughs, longer lines at airports and the temporary closures of some air towers.

Gardner said Congress gave on tax increases at the start of this year in the deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff and that he wants to see "true spending cuts" from the Obama administration in return.

Congress approved in the hours after midnight on New Year's Day a deal that increased payroll taxes from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent for everyone. People making more than $250,000 a year are also paying higher taxes.

Gardner voted against that measure.

"Nearly 80 percent of households across this country saw their taxes increase by 2 percent, some by far more than that," he said. "And now government is asking itself to reduce its spending by a little over 2 percent, and yet that has been a paralyzing fight."